Average volume of dairy production per cow New Zealand 2013-2023

In 2023, the average volume of dairy production per cow in New Zealand was around 4.35 thousand liters. The average productivity per cow had increased compared to the previous year, in which the average volume was roughly 4.29 thousand liters per cow. 

Dairy farming in New Zealand

New Zealand’s dairy farming industry is one of the country’s most economically significant. The Waikato region in the North Island had the highest number of dairy cows in New Zealand as of 2022, followed by the North Canterbury region in the South Island. The average size of a dairy cow herd in has increased slightly compared to 10 years ago. Holstein-Friesian/Jersey crossbreed cows dominate New Zealand’s dairy cow breed distribution.

Rural farm sales

Due to high production outputs and a strong export market, dairy farming in New Zealand can be lucrative. At nearly five million New Zealand dollars in 2022, the average sale price of dairy farms in New Zealand has remained relatively stable over the past decade. In the same season, 200 dairy farms were sold across New Zealand.